Pythagorean Self-Awareness Intervention Promoted Healthy Dietary Patterns, Controlled Body Mass Index, and Reduced Self-Reported Stress Levels of Primary School Children: Α One-Arm Pilot Study.

Stress is common in childhood and an important factor that affects behavior later in adulthood. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the Pythagorean Self-Awareness Intervention (PSAI), a holistic "cognitive reconstruction" technique to assess primary school children's stress levels, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and body mass index. Secondary outcome measures included relations with peers, sleep, and hair cortisol concentrations. This one-arm pilot study took place in a primary school, from February to June 2019. Participants were 32 pupils attending the second grade of primary school who received the 8-week PSAI to adopt healthy behaviors and lifestyle. Self-report measures were applied for the evaluation of various variables at the beginning and the end of the eight-week intervention. There were statistically significant reductions in stress levels (p = 0.00), nightmares' frequency (p = 0.00), body mass index (p = 0.03), and bully scale (p = 0.00), and improvement in Mediterranean diet quality (p = 0.00). Hair cortisol concentrations increased (p = 0.02). The social scale significantly increased. Bedtime remained the same after the intervention. This pilot trial showed that the PSAI promoted healthy dietary patterns, controlled children's body mass index, and reduced their self-reported stress levels. Further research on the implementation of this holistic program on children is suggested, in well-powered randomized controlled trials.

Reliability and validity of the Dyadic Coping Inventory for Financial Stress in Greek couples.

Financial stress can negatively affect a couple's relationship. The Dyadic Coping Inventory for Financial Stress (DCIFS) instrument assesses the way couples cope with financial stress. This study sought to validate the Dyadic Coping Inventory for Financial Stress (DCIFS) in Greek. The sample included 152 Greek couples (mean age: 42.82 ± 11.94). Confirmatory factor analyses provided support for delegated dyadic coping and evaluation of dyadic coping. Confirmatory Factor Analysis results supported a 33-item version consisting of the following subscales for both men and women: Stress Communication by Oneself and by Partner, Emotion and Problem-Focused Supportive Dyadic Coping (DC) by Oneself and by Partner, Negative DC by Oneself and by Partner, Emotion and Problem-Focused Common DC, and Evaluation of DC. The Dyadic Coping Inventory questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale were used to assess the criterion validity of DCIFS.

Effects of the Pythagorean Self Awareness Intervention on Childhood Emotional Eating and Psychological Wellbeing: a Pragmatic Trial.

BACKGROUND: Emotional eating is the tendency to regulate negative emotions (such as stress, depression and anxiety) through increased or unhealthy food intake. Emotion management, such as stress management could be an appropriate approach to prevent or control maladaptive eating behavior among children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a controlled pragmatic trial, testing the effects of Pythagorean Self Awareness Intervention (PSAI), a cognitive stress management program in a primary school setting. The eligibility criterion was being a 4th grade active pupil. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 23) or the control group (n = 22). Self-report measures were used for the evaluation of various variables at the beginning and the end of the 8-week monitoring period. Descriptive and inferential statistic methods were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: At the end of the 8-week period pupils in the intervention group experienced statistically significant reduction in stress (SIC, p < 0.001), anxiety (STAIC-trait anxiety, p = 0.019, STAIC-state anxiety, p = 0.006), guilt (p < 0.001) and emotional eating (EES-C, p < 0.001) and an increase in Mediterranean diet quality (KIDMED, p = 0.001) and pride (p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences between the two groups were recorded regarding depression symptoms (CDI, p = 0.551) and shame (p = 0.120). CONCLUSIONS: PSAI had positive effects on a sample of primary school attendants' emotional eating and psychological state.

Greek Validation of Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents.

AIM: In this study, we focused on the Greek validation of the Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents (EES-C). METHODS: Our sample consisted of 150 students in primary and secondary school settings from two different areas of Greece. Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and State and Trait Anxiety in Children (STAIC) were also used for validation purposes. RESULTS: The principal component factor analysis for construct validity generated three subscales: eating in response to anger/anxiety, feeling unsettled and de-pression. The EES-C tool was found with high internal reliability (Cronbach's Alpha 0.917). CONCLUSIONS: EES-C is a valid and reliable instrument to detect the emotional eating in children and adolescents in Greece.